Department of Geology

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Research Facilities

Some of the main research facilities available to members of the Department of Geology include:

Geochemical Analysis

microprobe

Research Fellow Doug MacKenzie using the Geology Department's JEOL JXA-8600 electron microprobe analyser.

Geophysics

  • Seismic processing facilities comprised of:
  • Geophysical equipment includes: a 48-channel Seistronix RAS-24 seismic recording system (including a buffalo gun source device), a Worden gravimeter, a Geometrics G-856AX proton precession magnetometer, electrical exploration equipment, short- and long-period seismographs, and GPS equipment.
  • See Controlled-Source Seismology at the University of Otago information.

Marine Geology

  • RV Polaris, a 21-m wooden-hulled vessel, was acquired by the University of Otago in 2006 to replace the aging RV Munida. It is equipped with GPS and Racal Microfix for navigation.
  • Facilities for dredging, trawling, and shallow coring, contribute to the department's sedimentological and paleontological research and teaching.
  • Marine geophysical equipment – used to image the seafloor and shallow sub-bottom – currently includes a Ferranti 5210A high-resolution/sub-bottom profiler with a Boomer source and Klein 595 digital side scan sonar.
  • A CTD (conductivity, temperature, density) tool and accompanying water column sampling rosette contributes to marine geochemistry and physical oceanography studies to depths of 500 m.
  • Enhancements to the marine geology equipment on board Polaris II are anticipated in the near future so be sure to "watch this space!"

Mineralogy and Petrology

  • A semi-automated JEOL JXA-8600 electron microprobe analyser, with cathodoluminescence attachment.
  • Full X-ray diffraction (XRD) facilities for mineral identification using a PANalytical X'Pert-Pro MPD PW3040/60 XRD with a Rapid RTMS X'Celerator Detector system plus a Multi Purpose Sample stage, Micro Diffraction & Optional Monochromator.
  • A heating/freezing stage system for fluid inclusion microscopy, plus cathodoluminescence equipment.
  • Extensive petrographical microscope and conventional and digital microphotographic facilities.
  • Facilities for the preparation of thin and polished sections and mineral separation.
    X'Pert PRO XRD

    PANalytical X'Pert-Pro MPD PW3040/60 XRD with a Rapid RTMS X'Celerator Detector system plus a Multi Purpose Sample stage, Micro Diffraction & Optional Monochromator.

Paleomagnetism

  • A state of the art palaeomagnetic research facility which is centred around a specially constructed "magnetic field-free room" and a purpose built automated high-sensitivity, high-resolution, long-core cryogenic magnetometer designed and constructed by 2G enterprises (USA).

magnetometer

Automated high-sensitivity, high-resolution, long-core cryogenic magnetometer.

Paleontology

  • Laboratory and field equipment for the preparation of vertebrate and invertebrate macrofossils, including rock drills, saws, a compressor, and pneumatic tools.
  • A microfossil preparation laboratory.
  • See Paleontology information.

paleontology preparation

Paleontology reparator Andrew Grebneff prepares a skull of a new species of fossil dolphin from the Otekaike Limestone of the Waitaki Valley region. The specimen is of Late Oligocene age, about 24 million years.

Structural Geology Facilities and Laboratory

  • Analogue model facilities: sandboxes etc
  • Specialised and more generic analytical software: ArcGIS, FLACv3.4, FLAC3Dv2.0&2.1, Move, Kingdom Suite, Elle microstructural simulation software, Matlab
  • Slide and flatbed scanners
  • Photomicrography equipment and facilities to perform computer-integrated polarisation microscopic analysis (CIP) of c-axis orientation distributions in uniaxial minerals
  • Image analysis facilities
  • Aerial photography analysis equipment
  • See detailed information on the Structural Laboratory page.

Additional equipment and facilities include

  • A team of helpful and able general and technical staff.
  • A Geological Museum housing extensive reference collections of fossils, minerals, and rocks.
  • Several departmental vehicles and trailers.
  • An inflatable boat plus outboard motor for lake and coastal work.
  • A two-person kayak for work on lake coastlines.
  • An extensive range of computers for student and staff use.
  • GIS data and software.
  • Sediment analysis equipment
  • Rapid Sediment Analysis software capable of analysing sediment in the grainsize range - 2 phi to 4 phi at quarter-phi resolution, utilising Geology or Geography Department settling tubes